In a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, president of the NCHR Moushira Khattab said the council has set an action plan to implement the strategy within a specific time frame, the council said in statements on Thursday.

Bachelet hailed the positive steps President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has taken to improve the human rights situation, including launching the national strategy, declaring 2022 as a year of civil society, and extending an invitation for a national dialogue.

Bachelet said the OHCHR is ready to support the NCHR in all the latter’s activities as well as in technical cooperation and supporting the role of civil society.

The country’s 2021-2026 National Strategy for Human Rights was launched by El-Sisi in September last year to address political, economic, social, and cultural rights for all groups, including marginalised ones.

Ambassador Khattab said she welcomes further cooperation with the OHCHR, extending an invitation for Bachelet to visit Egypt and the NCHR headquarters.

Bachelet hailed the cooperation between the OHCHR and the NCHR and their partnership in holding joint seminars that address sustainable development indicators as well as the international solidarity and sustainable development plan conference organised by the NCHR in February.

The international conference, held in collaboration with the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) and the national human rights commission in Qatar, issued a number of recommendations, including backing human rights institutions to contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.

During the meeting, Khattab explained to Bachelet El-Sisi’s steps to raise the ceiling of civilian and political rights as well as to implement the Haya Karima (Decent Life) programme, which aims to improve the economic, social, and cultural rights in the neediest parts of the nation.

The NCHR’s committees have finalised their work plans and vision for the council’s contribution in the national dialogue called by the president from a human rights perspective, Khattab noted.

Attending the meeting, Vice-President of NCHR Mahmoud Karem offered an overview of the work of the council’s units and committees since its new composition in October.